To tell which logic board it is, you can just check the color for a decent comparison. If it's navy blue, it's from a PowerMac G4 MDD (The Last Generation Of PowerMac G4) or an Xserve G4. If it is green, it's from a Quicksilver, or the origional PowerMac G4. Can you find a date on the board?

1 Answer

There is no really good way to test a part based on a visual inspection. If you see any damaged, disformed, or "fried" components, then the chances are, it's bad. Sometimes, though failure can happen on a non-visual level. For example, a bad solder joint (Solder holds every component to the board, and forms the electronical connection) which can be virtualy undetectable, or a bad intergrated circuit, such as damage to a chip that isn't visible on the outside. The best way to test anything it to plug it in. Note, if you are going to buy a case, keep in mind that each logic board has it's own specific case.

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